Ngare Serian
Ngare Serian is an intimate tented camp located on the western bank of the Mara River, in a small private concession bordering the Mara North Conservancy
Ngare Serian is an intimate and exclusive camp offering a high level of personal hosting, good food, friendly service and pretty luxurious accommodation whilst maintaining an authentic camp feel and bush atmosphere. The location on the banks of the Mara River is idyllic, with super birdlife in camp and hippos to serenade you to sleep. There is a suspension bridge you need to cross to enter camp, which may not be suitable for everyone. The property is run in conjunction with sister camp Serian ‘The Original’, which is located just across the river (slightly downstream) and meals are sometimes a very communal affair with guests and management joining from both camps – this is typical of the more flexible, communal ethos of the company. Guiding is excellent and with an exclusive vehicle provided for each group of guests, activities can be flexible and varied. This should be taken into account when comparing prices with other camps. We think Ngare Serian offers a great all round experience and should be especially considered if you are keen to include some walking as well as enjoy a more traditional, communal safari atmosphere in camp.
Rooms
Accommodation for a maximum of eight guests is in four individual tented suites, each standing on a raised wooden deck overlooking the river. The spacious tents are comfortably furnished with large private decks. They do not have electricity but rely on solar powered batteries for lighting. Bathroom facilities, consisting of a plumbed shower, sunken bath and flush toilet, are ‘open fronted’ and are located immediately outside the tent on the wooden deck. There is also their ‘Nest’ Treehouse which can be used for more adventurous sleep outs (this should be pre-booked).
Central Areas
The central mess tent has a cosy lounge and indoor dining area leading out onto a wide wooden deck and lawns for ‘al fresco’ dining overlooking the river.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – No
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – No
Habitat & Wildlife
The Masai Mara ecosystem is one of the best game viewing areas in Africa and is especially good for viewing the big cats. Elephants, buffalo, hippo, crocodiles, giraffe, zebra, lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyaena, impala, gazelles, eland, waterbuck, topi, jackal and serval are all common and seen regularly. Rhino are found in certain areas, and wild dogs are more transient visitors. The scenery of the Masai Mara is stunning with open grassland plains intersected by rivers, rocky ridges and pockets of riverine forest. Birdlife is varied and especially good around the riverine woodland areas.
Whilst the official Masai Mara Game Reserve can be busy with tourist vehicles in places, especially at river crossings in migration season, the private Mara North Conservancy offers relative exclusivity away from the crowds. You do still see other vehicles, especially at predator sightings, but much of the time you will be able to explore away from other vehicles. The conservancy is vast, stretching from the Aitong Hills all the way down to the north-western boundary of the Mara Reserve, and also offers a good mix of wide open plains, rocky valleys and riverine woodland.
The conservancies are funded by a limited number of ‘tourism partners’ in cooperation with local Maasai land-owners, and this model has been shown to benefit not only the local land-owners who receive greater income and better pasture for their livestock, and the tourism partners, but also the wildlife and in particular, the predators.
Activities
Game viewing by exclusive use vehicle (by day and by night) is complemented by some excellent walking to the west of the river, where Ngare Serian enjoys exclusive use of 4,500 acres of bush leading up and on to the escarpment. In this concession there is also the option to spend a night on the more adventurous ‘Nest’ tree-house platform, which can be booked for sleep outs in advance or locally. Fly-camping for any number of nights is also possible along the escarpment and throughout Mara North Conservancy. Helicopter scenic flights and hot air ballooning can be arranged (at an extra cost).
Seasons
Ngare Serian is open all year round, whilst the migration should be in residence in the Masai Mara Reserve from mid-July through to mid-October.
Whilst Ngare Serian has no age restriction and triples are possible, we do not automatically think of this camp for families with younger children. However, for families with older teenage kids who can take their own tent, Ngare Serian is a brilliant option due to the personal service provided, the flexible activities on offer and the private guiding included.
Serian are members of the Mara North Conservancy (MNC) whose land is leased through monthly payments to the Masaai landowners. The partnership provides the landowners with an incentive to set aside part of their land for wildlife conservation and low density tourism.
For three years Serian provided the base of the Mara Predator Project who were exploring ways to protect the remainder of Africa’s decreasing lion populations due to human and wildlife conflict. They support their efforts to ensure a healthy increase in numbers allowing lions thrive in their wild places.
Serian’s electricity mostly comes from solar power, with laundry being done by hand and the use of charcoal irons and ovens with charcoal made in the local communities. Organic waste goes into a compost pit which helps to feed the organic vegetable garden with the addition of manure from the local Maasai bomas.
